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1	<?xml version='1.0' encoding="UTF-8"?>	1	<?xml version='1.0' encoding="UTF-8"?>
		2	<!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml,v 1.21 2003/11/23 16:30:50 swift Exp $ -->
2	<!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd">	3	<!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd">
3		4
4	<guide link = "/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml">	5	<guide link = "/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml">
5	<title>Gentoo Linux ALSA Guide</title>	6	<title>Gentoo Linux ALSA Guide</title>
6	<author title="Author"><mail link="zu@pandora.be">	7	<author title="Author">
7	Vincent Verleye</mail>	8	<mail link="zu@pandora.be">Vincent Verleye</mail>
8	</author>	9	</author>
9	<author title="Author"><mail link="g2boojum@gentoo.org">	10	<author title="Author">
10	Grant Goodyear</mail>	11	<mail link="g2boojum@gentoo.org">Grant Goodyear</mail>
11	</author>	12	</author>
12	<author title="Author"><mail link="agenkin@gentoo.org">	13	<author title="Author">
13	Arcady Genkin</mail>	14	<mail link="agenkin@gentoo.org">Arcady Genkin</mail>
14	</author>	15	</author>
15	<author title="Editor"><mail link="zhen@gentoo.org">	16	<author title="Editor"><!-- zhen@gentoo.org -->
16	John P. Davis</mail>	17	John P. Davis
17	</author>	18	</author>
		19	<author title="Editor">
		20	<mail link="swift@gentoo.org">Sven Vermeulen</mail>
		21	</author>
		22	<author title="Editor">
		23	<mail link="bennyc@gentoo.org">Benny Chuang</mail>
		24	</author>
		25	<author title="Editor">
		26	<mail link="blubber@gentoo.org">Tiemo Kieft</mail>
		27	</author>
18		28
19	<license/>	29	<license/>
20		30
21	<abstract>	31	<abstract>
22	This guide will show you how to set up the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) on Gentoo Linux.	32	This guide will show you how to set up the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
23	In addition to the Gentoo Linux Desktop Configuration Guide, this guide is supposed to give you more information on this subject. </abstract>	33	(ALSA) on Gentoo Linux. In addition to the Gentoo Linux Desktop Configuration
		34	Guide, this guide is supposed to give you more information on this subject.
		35	</abstract>
24		36
25	<version>1.2</version>	37	<version>1.3.4</version>
26	<date>5 June 2003</date>	38	<date>November 23, 2003</date>
27		39
28	<chapter>	40	<chapter>
29	<title>Introduction</title>	41	<title>Introduction</title>
30	<section>	42	<section>
31	<title>What is ALSA?</title>	43	<title>What is ALSA?</title>
32	<body>	44	<body>
		45
33	<p>	46	<p>
34	The Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) is a project to improve the Linux sound subsystem by rewriting	47	The Advanced Linux Sound Architecture (ALSA) is a project to improve the Linux
35	large chunks of it.	48	sound subsystem by rewriting large chunks of it. It is anticipated that ALSA
36	It is anticipated that ALSA will make it into Linux kernel 2.6.x (or 3.x.x -- whichever comes first) as it becomes ready.	49	will make it into Linux kernel 2.6.x (or 3.x.x -- whichever comes first) as it
		50	becomes ready.
37	</p>	51	</p>
38		52
39	<p>	53	<p>
40	ALSA provides audio and MIDI functionality for Linux.	54	ALSA provides audio and MIDI functionality for Linux.
41	</p>	55	</p>
42		56
43	<p>	57	<p>
44	Quoted from <uri>http://www.alsa-project.org</uri>, ALSA has the following features:	58	Quoted from <uri>http://www.alsa-project.org</uri>, ALSA has the following
45	<ul><li> Efficient support for all types of audio interfaces, from consumer soundcards to professional multichannel audio interfaces.</li>	59	features:
		60	</p>
		61
		62	<ul>
		63	<li>
		64	Efficient support for all types of audio interfaces, from consumer
		65	soundcards to professional multichannel audio interfaces
		66	</li>
46	<li> Fully modularized sound drivers.</li>	67	<li>Fully modularized sound drivers</li>
47	<li> SMP and thread-safe design.</li>	68	<li>SMP and thread-safe design</li>
		69	<li>
48	<li> User space library (alsa-lib) to simplify application programming and provide higher level functionality.</li>	70	User space library (alsa-lib) to simplify application programming and
		71	provide higher level functionality
		72	</li>
		73	<li>
49	<li> Support for the older OSS API, providing binary compatibility for most OSS programs.</li>	74	Support for the older OSS API, providing binary compatibility for most OSS
		75	programs
		76	</li>
50	</ul>	77	</ul>
51	There's lots more to ALSA however, like support for Full Duplex playback and recording, multiple soundcard support,	78
52	hardware mixing of streams, extensive mixer capabilities (to support advanced features of new soundcards), ...
53	</p>	79	<p>
		80	There's lots more to ALSA however, like support for Full Duplex playback and
		81	recording, multiple soundcard support, hardware mixing of streams, extensive
		82	mixer capabilities (to support advanced features of new soundcards), ...
		83	</p>
		84
54	</body>	85	</body>
55	</section>
56	<section>	86	</section>
		87	<section>
57	<title>Why use ALSA?</title>	88	<title>Why use ALSA?</title>
58	<body>	89	<body>
		90
59	<p>	91	<p>
60	If your soundcard is supported by the Linux kernel sound system or the commercial OSS/4Front sound driver system,	92	If your soundcard is supported by the Linux kernel sound system or the
		93	commercial OSS/4Front sound driver system, which can be found in all 2.4.x
61	which can be found in all 2.4.x Linux kernels, you could just aswell build <e>those modules</e> for use with your soundcard.	94	Linux kernels, you could just aswell build <e>those modules</e> for use with
		95	your soundcard. If you want this, just read through the <uri
62	If you want this, just read through the <uri link="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO/index.html">Linux Sound HOWTO</uri>.	96	link="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO/index.html">Linux Sound HOWTO</uri>.
63	</p>	97	</p>
		98
64	<p>	99	<p>
65	However, those OSS/4Front drivers have some limitations -- being commercial is one.	100	However, those OSS/4Front drivers have some limitations -- being commercial is
66	ALSA is an attempt to go beyond these limitations and to do so in an open source fashion.	101	one. ALSA is an attempt to go beyond these limitations and to do so in an open
67	ALSA is a fully GPL and LGPL'ed sound driver system, that provides a professional quality system for recording, playback,	102	source fashion. ALSA is a fully GPL and LGPL'ed sound driver system, that
68	and MIDI sequencing.	103	provides a professional quality system for recording, playback, and MIDI
		104	sequencing.
69	</p>	105	</p>
		106
70	</body>	107	</body>
71	</section>
72	<section>	108	</section>
		109	<section>
73	<title>What cards does ALSA support?</title>	110	<title>What cards does ALSA support?</title>
74	<body>	111	<body>
		112
75	<p>	113	<p>
76	ALSA tries to support as many (new) cards as possible by providing open-source drivers.	114	ALSA tries to support as many (new) cards as possible by providing open-source
77	However, some vendors may provide binary-only packages.	115	drivers. However, some vendors may provide binary-only packages.
		116	</p>
		117
78	</p>	118	<p>
79	<p>To know if your card is supported, you can find a Soundcard Matrix of supported and not-supported cards here:	119	To know if your card is supported, you can find a Soundcard Matrix of supported
80	<uri>http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/</uri>.	120	and not-supported cards here: <uri>http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/</uri>.
81	</p>	121	</p>
		122
82	</body>	123	</body>
83	</section>	124	</section>
84	</chapter>	125	</chapter>
85		126
86	<chapter>	127	<chapter>
87	<title>Installation</title>	128	<title>Installation</title>
88	<section>	129	<section>
		130	<title>Gentoo USE flags</title>
		131	<body>
		132
		133	<p>
		134	To compile programs with ALSA-support, be sure to add <e>alsa</e> to
		135	your USE-variable. However, several tools don't support alsa yet, and
		136	require OSS. ALSA provides OSS-emulation if you define <e>oss</e> in your
		137	USE-variable before you start.
		138	</p>
		139
		140	</body>
		141	</section>
		142	<section>
89	<title>Kernel modules</title>	143	<title>Kernel modules</title>
90	<body>	144	<body>
91	<p>	145
92	Since we're still using 2.4.x kernel sources, we'll have to compile kernel modules and ALSA modules separately. People who are using a 2.5.x kernel can do this from within their kernel configuration, since the ALSA modules are included in the kernel sources and should be built there.
93	</p>	146	<p>
		147	Since we're still using 2.4.x kernel sources, we'll have to compile kernel
		148	modules and ALSA modules separately. People who are using a 2.5.x kernel can
		149	do this from within their kernel configuration, since the ALSA modules are
		150	included in the kernel sources and should be built there.
		151	</p>
		152
94	<p>	153	<p>
95	First we'll make sure that our kernel configuration is ready for use with ALSA.	154	First we'll make sure that our kernel configuration is ready for use with ALSA.
96	All you need in your kernel configuration is having Sound Card Support set to be built as a module (M).	155	All you need in your kernel configuration is having Sound Card Support set to
97	This will build <c>soundcore.o</c>.	156	be built as a module (M). This will build <path>soundcore.o</path>.
98	</p>
99	<p>	157	</p>
100	<note>	158
101	Possibly, this will also work when you built Sound Card Support in the kernel (Y) instead of building it as a module (M).
102	However, the official ALSA documentation suggests building it as a module, since ALSA will try loading it.
103	</note>	159	<note>
		160	Possibly, this will also work when you built Sound Card Support in the kernel
		161	(Y) instead of building it as a module (M). However, the official ALSA
		162	documentation suggests building it as a module, since ALSA will try loading it.
		163	</note>
		164
104	</p>	165	<p>
105	<p>If you already have a working kernel configuration, make sure you remove all sound drivers (except for Sound Card Support).	166	If you already have a working kernel configuration, make sure you remove all
106	If you wish to do this without having to reboot, you could do like this:	167	sound drivers (except for Sound Card Support). If you wish to do this without
		168	having to reboot, you could do like this:
107	</p>	169	</p>
108	<pre>	170
		171	<pre caption="Kernel configuration">
109	# <c>cd /usr/src/linux</c>	172	# <i>cd /usr/src/linux</i>
110	# <c>cp .config ~/</c>	173	# <i>cp .config ~/</i>
111	# <c>make mrproper</c>	174	# <i>make mrproper</i>
112	# <c>cp ~/.config .</c>	175	# <i>cp ~/.config .</i>
113	# <c>make menuconfig</c>	176	# <i>make menuconfig</i>
114	</pre>	177	</pre>
		178
115	<p>	179	<p>
116	Now select <e>Sound Card Support</e> as Module (M) and deselect all other sound drivers.	180	Now select <e>Sound Card Support</e> as Module (M) and deselect all other sound
117	Exit and say Y to save your kernel configuration.	181	drivers. Exit and say Y to save your kernel configuration. After that, build
118	After that, build the modules:	182	the modules:
119	</p>	183	</p>
120	<pre>	184
		185	<pre caption="Kernel compilation">
121	# <c>make dep clean</c>	186	# <i>make dep clean</i>
122	# <c>make modules modules_install</c>	187	# <i>make modules modules_install</i>
123	</pre>	188	</pre>
		189
124	<p>	190	<p>
125	Before installing your new modules, this last line will delete all your previous modules,	191	Before installing your new modules, this last line will delete all your previous
126	even the ones from a previous ALSA installation.	192	modules, even the ones from a previous ALSA installation.
127	</p>
128	<p>	193	</p>
		194
129	<impo>	195	<impo>
130	This means, whenever you recompile your kernel later on, you MUST recompile <c>alsa-driver</c>.	196	This means, whenever you recompile your kernel later on, you MUST recompile
		197	<c>alsa-driver</c>.
131	</impo>	198	</impo>
132	</p>
133	<p>
134	<note>However, there's no need to reinstall <c>nvidia-kernel</c>, the Nvidia drivers are in a separate directory
135	in <path>/lib/modules/*/video</path> and won't get deleted by a <c>make modules modules_install</c>
136	</note>
137	</p>
138	</body>
139	</section>
140		199
		200	</body>
141	<section>	201	</section>
		202	<section>
142	<title>ALSA modules</title>	203	<title>ALSA modules</title>
143	<body>	204	<body>
144		205
145	<p>
146	Now it's time to install the ALSA drivers for your soundcard(s). If your soundcard is PCI, you can find out the name
147	and type of your soundcard by looking at the output of /proc/pci
148	<pre># <c>grep audio /proc/pci</c></pre>
149	</p>	206	<p>
150		207	Now it's time to install the ALSA drivers for your soundcard(s). If your
		208	soundcard is PCI, you can find out the name and type of your soundcard by
		209	looking at the output of <path>/proc/pci</path>.
151	<p>	210	</p>
		211
		212	<pre caption="Search for soundcard information">
		213	# <i>grep audio /proc/pci</i>
		214	</pre>
		215
152	<warn>	216	<warn>
153	If you had a previous sound setup and there are still non-ALSA sound modules loaded, unload them <e>now</e>.	217	If you had a previous sound setup and there are still non-ALSA sound modules
154	Check with <c>lsmod</c> and use <c>rmmod</c> to unload all sound-related modules on your system.	218	loaded, unload them <e>now</e>. Check with <c>lsmod</c> and use <c>rmmod</c>
		219	to unload all sound-related modules on your system.
155	</warn>	220	</warn>
		221
156	</p>	222	<p>
157		223	We could simply do an <c>emerge alsa-driver</c> now, this would compile and
		224	install <e>all</e> ALSA sound drivers.
158	<p>	225	</p>
159	We could simply do an <c>emerge alsa-driver</c> now, this would compile and install <e>all</e> ALSA sound drivers.	226
160	</p>	227	<p>
161	<p>
162	However, to save some time, lookup the <e>Module Name</e> of your soundcard(s) on the	228	However, to save some time, lookup the <e>Module Name</e> of your soundcard(s)
163	<uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc">ALSA Soundcard Matrix</uri> by following the <e>Details</e> link in the <e>Driver and Docs</e> column in the row of the chipset of your soundcard.	229	on the <uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc">ALSA Soundcard
		230	Matrix</uri> by following the <e>Details</e> link in the <e>Driver and Docs</e>
		231	column in the row of the chipset of your soundcard. Mine is <c>snd-emu10k1</c>,
164	Mine is <c>snd-emu10k1</c>, since I have an SBlive! soundcard, with the <e>EMU10K1</e> chipset.	232	since I have an SBlive! soundcard, with the <e>EMU10K1</e> chipset. We'll set
165	We'll set ALSA_CARDS environment to the value of the module name before emerging (but without the snd prefix), so emerge will only compile the drivers we need.	233	ALSA_CARDS environment to the value of the module name before emerging (but
166	</p>	234	without the snd prefix), so emerge will only compile the drivers we need.
167
168	<p>	235	</p>
169	<pre>	236
		237	<pre caption="Compile correct modules">
170	# <c>env ALSA_CARDS='emu10k1' emerge alsa-driver</c>	238	# <i>env ALSA_CARDS='emu10k1' emerge alsa-driver</i>
171	</pre>
172	</p>	239	</pre>
173	<p>	240
174	<note>	241	<note>
175	You can also add this value in <path>/etc/make.conf</path>, so when you have to emerge the alsa-driver later on you can just run <c>emerge alsa-driver</c>.	242	You can also add this value in <path>/etc/make.conf</path>, so when you have
		243	to emerge the alsa-driver later on you can just run <c>emerge alsa-driver</c>.
176	For example, like this: <c>echo 'ALSA_CARDS="emu10k1"' >> /etc/make.conf</c>	244	For example, like this: <c>echo 'ALSA_CARDS="emu10k1"' >> /etc/make.conf</c>
177	</note>	245	</note>
178		246
179	<note>	247	<note>
180	When you want to install ALSA drivers for more than one soundcard, you could set ALSA_CARDS to a space-separated list	248	When you want to install ALSA drivers for more than one soundcard, you could
		249	set ALSA_CARDS to a space-separated list of drivers; like this: <c>env
181	of drivers; like this: <c>env ALSA_CARDS='emu10k1 intel8x0 ens1370' emerge alsa-driver</c>	250	ALSA_CARDS='emu10k1 intel8x0 ens1370' emerge alsa-driver</c>
		251	</note>
		252
182	</note>	253	<note>
183
184	<note>If you want to have OSS compatibility, make sure to emerge <i>alsa-oss</i>, it is the ALSA/OSS compatibility	254	If you want to have OSS compatibility, make sure to emerge <i>alsa-oss</i>, it
185	wrapper. </note>	255	is the ALSA/OSS compatibility wrapper.
		256	</note>
186		257
187	</p>	258	<note>
		259	If you plan on recompiling your kernels numerous times, it might
		260	be adviseable to emerge <c>alsa-driver</c> with <c>--buildpkg</c>. This
		261	will create a binary package for it. Later, after recompiling your kernel,
		262	you can just do <c>emerge --usepkg alsa-driver</c> which will install the
		263	binary package instead of recompiling it completely.
		264	</note>
		265
188	<p>	266	<p>
189	After this, the ALSA modules should be installed on your system.	267	After this, the ALSA modules should be installed on your system.
190	</p>	268	</p>
		269
191	</body>	270	</body>
192	</section>
193	<section>	271	</section>
		272	<section>
194	<title>Configuration of ALSA</title>	273	<title>Configuration of ALSA</title>
195	<body>	274	<body>
		275
196	<p>	276	<p>
197	Let's start configuring now to get ALSA working properly.	277	Let's start configuring now to get ALSA working properly. We'll need to edit
198	We'll need to edit some files, to let our system know about the freshly installed ALSA modules.	278	some files, to let our system know about the freshly installed ALSA modules.
199	</p>
200	<p>	279	</p>
201	First file to edit is <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path>.	280
202	</p>	281	<p>
		282	First, install <c>alsa-utils</c> on your system:
		283	</p>
		284
		285	<pre caption = "Emerging alsa-utils">
		286	# <i>emerge alsa-utils</i>
		287	</pre>
		288
		289	<p>
		290	Hereafter, we need to edit <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path>.
		291	</p>
		292
203	<warn>	293	<warn>
204	There is no need to edit <path>/etc/modules.conf</path>. Instead, always edit files in <path>/etc/modules.d</path>.	294	There is no need to edit <path>/etc/modules.conf</path>. Instead, always edit
		295	files in <path>/etc/modules.d</path>.
205	</warn>	296	</warn>
		297
206	<p>	298	<p>
207	Check the ALSA portion <e>at the bottom of the file</e>.	299	Check the ALSA portion <e>at the bottom of the file</e>. By tweaking this line
208	By tweaking this line you can specify the max number of soundcards you have (generally, just one).	300	you can specify the max number of soundcards you have (generally, just one).
209	</p>
210	<p>	301	</p>
		302
211	<pre caption="At the bottom of /etc/modules.d/alsa">	303	<pre caption="At the bottom of /etc/modules.d/alsa">
212	# Set this to the correct number of cards.	304	<comment>Set this to the correct number of cards.</comment>
213	<c>options snd cards_limit=1</c>	305	options snd cards_limit=1
214	</pre>	306	</pre>
		307
215	</p>	308	<p>
216	<p>
217	Now we'll specify the sounddriver(s) ALSA should use. In the same file, edit like this:	309	Now we'll specify the sounddriver(s) ALSA should use. In the same file, edit
		310	like this:
		311	</p>
		312
218	<pre caption="In /etc/modules.d/alsa">	313	<pre caption="In /etc/modules.d/alsa">
219	## and then run `update-modules' command.	314	## and then run `modules-update' command.
220	## Read alsa-driver's INSTALL file in /usr/share/doc for more info.	315	## Read alsa-driver's INSTALL file in /usr/share/doc for more info.
221	##	316	##
222	## ALSA portion	317	## ALSA portion
223	<c>alias snd-card-0 snd-emu10k1</c>	318	alias snd-card-0 snd-emu10k1
224	<c>## If you have more than one, add:	319	<comment>## If you have more than one, add:</comment>
225	## alias snd-card-1 snd-intel8x0	320	## alias snd-card-1 snd-intel8x0
226	## alias snd-card-2 snd-ens1370</c>	321	## alias snd-card-2 snd-ens1370
227	## OSS/Free portion	322	## OSS/Free portion
228	## alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0	323	## alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0
229	## alias sound-slot-1 snd-card-1	324	## alias sound-slot-1 snd-card-1
230	##	325	##
231	</pre>	326	</pre>
232	</p>	327
233	<p>
234	<note>	328	<note>
235	If you have more than one soundcard, adjust the <c>cards_limit</c> value and add more snd-card aliases to the file.	329	If you have more than one soundcard, adjust the <c>cards_limit</c> value and add
236	I don't have experience with this, but you can find examples for configurations with two or more soundcards in	330	more snd-card aliases to the file. I don't have experience with this, but you
		331	can find examples for configurations with two or more soundcards in <uri
237	<uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-howto/c1660.htm">Chapter 6</uri>	332	link="http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-howto/c1660.htm">Chapter 6</uri>
		333	of the <uri
238	of the <uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-howto/alsa-howto.html">ALSA Howto</uri>.	334	link="http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-howto/alsa-howto.html">ALSA
		335	Howto</uri>.
239	</note>	336	</note>
		337
240	</p>	338	<p>
241	<p>
242	Last thing to do in this file, almost at the end, check if these lines are there and uncommented:	339	Last thing to do in this file, almost at the end, check if these lines are there
		340	and uncommented:
		341	</p>
		342
243	<pre caption="Near the end of /etc/modules.d/alsa">	343	<pre caption="Near the end of /etc/modules.d/alsa">
244	alias /dev/mixer snd-mixer-oss	344	alias /dev/mixer snd-mixer-oss
245	alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss	345	alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss
246	alias /dev/midi snd-seq-oss	346	alias /dev/midi snd-seq-oss
247	</pre>	347	</pre>
		348
248	</p>	349	<p>
		350	Now double-check the file <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path> and when you're sure
		351	everyting is ok, run <c>modules-update</c>.
249	<p>	352	</p>
250	Now double-check the file <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path> and when you're sure everyting is ok, run <c>update-modules</c>.	353
		354	<pre caption="Running modules-update">
		355	# <i>modules-update</i>
251	<pre>	356	</pre>
252	# <c>update-modules</c>	357
253	</pre>
254	</p>
255	<note>
256	Running <c>update-modules</c> here will insert the data from <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path> into <path>/etc/modules.conf</path>
257	</note>	358	<note>
258	<p>	359	Running <c>modules-update</c> here will insert the data from
259	You should also verify that /etc/devfsd.conf has the alsa devices and permissions correctly registered.	360	<path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path> into <path>/etc/modules.conf</path>
		361	</note>
		362
260	</p>	363	<p>
		364	You should also verify that <path>/etc/devfsd.conf</path> has the alsa devices
		365	and permissions correctly registered.
		366	</p>
		367
261	<pre caption="/etc/devfsd.conf">	368	<pre caption="/etc/devfsd.conf">
262	# ALSA/OSS stuff	369	# ALSA/OSS stuff
263	# Comment/change these if you want to change the permissions on	370	# Comment/change these if you want to change the permissions on
264	# the audio devices	371	# the audio devices
265	LOOKUP snd MODLOAD ACTION snd	372	LOOKUP snd MODLOAD ACTION snd
…		…
267	LOOKUP mixer MODLOAD	374	LOOKUP mixer MODLOAD
268	LOOKUP midi MODLOAD	375	LOOKUP midi MODLOAD
269	REGISTER sound/.* PERMISSIONS root.audio 660	376	REGISTER sound/.* PERMISSIONS root.audio 660
270	REGISTER snd/.* PERMISSIONS root.audio 660	377	REGISTER snd/.* PERMISSIONS root.audio 660
271	</pre>	378	</pre>
272	<note>	379
273	Notice that devfsd.conf sets /dev/sound permissions to be root.audio. Thus, for non-root users to use audio they will have to be part of the audio group.
274	</note>	380	<note>
		381	Notice that devfsd.conf sets <path>/dev/sound</path> permissions to be
		382	root.audio. Thus, for non-root users to use audio they will have to be part of
		383	the audio group.
		384	</note>
		385
275	</body>	386	</body>
276	</section>	387	</section>
277	</chapter>	388	</chapter>
		389
278	<chapter>	390	<chapter>
279	<title>Starting ALSA</title>	391	<title>Starting ALSA</title>
280	<section>	392	<section>
281	<title>Adding alsasound to a runlevel</title>	393	<title>Adding alsasound to a runlevel</title>
282	<body>	394	<body>
		395
283	<p>	396	<p>
284	First thing to do now, is to make ALSA startup at boottime. Like this:	397	First thing to do now, is to make ALSA startup at boottime. Like this:
285	<pre>	398	</p>
		399
		400	<pre caption="Add ALSA to the default runlevel">
286	# <c>rc-update add alsasound boot</c>	401	# <i>rc-update add alsasound boot</i>
287	</pre>
288	</p>
289	<p>
290	<warn>Note that the alsasound script should be added to the "boot" runlevel, not the "default" runlevel.</warn>
291	</p>
292	</body>
293	</section>
294	<section>
295	<title>Running and unmuting</title>
296	<body>
297	<p>
298	Since we're Linux users, we don't want to reboot. So we'll start the alsasound script manually.
299	</p>
300	<pre>	402	</pre>
301	# <c>/etc/init.d/alsasound start</c>	403
302	</pre>
303	<p>
304	ALSA is running now. If everything is ok, you should be able to see the ALSA modules loaded when running <c>lsmod</c>.
305	However, sound won't work yet, because the channels are still muted. We need <c>alsa-utils</c> for this.
306	</p>
307	<pre>
308	# <c>emerge alsa-utils</c>
309	# <c>amixer</c>
310	</pre>
311	<p>
312	<warn>	404	<warn>
313	You shouldn't get this, but <e>if</e> you get an error about "amixer: Mixer attach default error: No such file or directory", you should manually insmod	405	Note that the alsasound script should be added to the "boot" runlevel, not the
		406	"default" runlevel.
		407	</warn>
		408
		409	</body>
		410	</section>
		411	<section>
		412	<title>Running and unmuting</title>
		413	<body>
		414
		415	<p>
		416	Since we're Linux users, we don't want to reboot. So we'll start the alsasound
		417	script manually.
		418	</p>
		419
		420	<pre caption="Starting ALSA">
		421	# <i>/etc/init.d/alsasound start</i>
		422	</pre>
		423
		424	<p>
		425	ALSA is running now. If everything is ok, you should be able to see the ALSA
		426	modules loaded when running <c>lsmod</c>. However, sound won't work yet,
		427	because the channels are still muted. We need <c>amixer</c> for this.
		428	</p>
		429
		430	<pre caption = "Running amixer">
		431	# <i>amixer</i>
		432	</pre>
		433
		434	<warn>
		435	You shouldn't get this, but <e>if</e> you get an error about "amixer: Mixer
		436	attach default error: No such file or directory", you should manually modprobe
314	<c>snd-mixer-oss</c> and <c>snd-pcm-oss</c> once. After that run amixer again.	437	<c>snd-mixer-oss</c> and <c>snd-pcm-oss</c> once. After that run amixer again.
315	</warn>	438	</warn>
316	</p>	439
317	<pre caption="only if you get an error when running amixer">	440	<pre caption="Only if you get an error when running amixer">
318	# <c>insmod snd-mixer-oss</c>	441	# <i>modprobe snd-mixer-oss</i>
319	# <c>insmod snd-pcm-oss</c>	442	# <i>modprobe snd-pcm-oss</i>
320	# <c>amixer</c>	443	# <i>amixer</i>
321	</pre>
322	<p>
323	If you got this far, now unmute both Master and PCM channels.
324	</p>
325	<p>
326	<pre>	444	</pre>
		445
		446	<p>
		447	If you got this far, now unmute Master and PCM channels. Some hardware
		448	even requires you to unmute the center channel or even the surround
		449	channel.
		450	</p>
		451
		452	<pre caption = "Unmuting channels">
327	# <c>amixer set Master 100 unmute</c>	453	# <i>amixer set Master 100 unmute</i>
328	# <c>amixer set PCM 100 unmute</c>	454	# <i>amixer set PCM 100 unmute</i>
		455	<comment>Only if the above doesn't succeed on its own:</comment>
		456	# <i>amixer set Center 100 unmute</i>
		457	# <i>amixer set Surround 100 unmute</i>
		458	<comment>Test the sound:</comment>
329	# <c>aplay $KDEDIR/share/sounds/pop.wav</c> <codenote>(pop.wav is part of KDE)</codenote>	459	# <i>aplay $KDEDIR/share/sounds/pop.wav</i> <codenote>(pop.wav is part of KDE)</codenote>
330	</pre>	460	</pre>
		461
331	</p>	462	<p>
332	We check to see if sound is working by using the aplay (alsa play) command. If you hear a pop, then sound is indeed working.	463	We check to see if sound is working by using the aplay (alsa play) command. If
		464	you hear a pop, then sound is indeed working. Then, adjust the volume settings
333	Then, adjust the volume settings to your liking; the ncurses-based <c>alsamixer</c> is a great way to get them "just so".	465	to your liking; the ncurses-based <c>alsamixer</c> is a great way to get them
		466	"just so".
334	<p>	467	</p>
		468
		469	<p>
335	You may want to emerge <c>alsa-xmms</c> as that will provide ALSA support for XMMS.	470	You may want to emerge <c>alsa-xmms</c> as that will provide ALSA support for
		471	XMMS.
		472	</p>
		473
336	</p>	474	<p>
337	When you reboot your system, the <e>alsasound</e> init script will properly save and restore your volume settings.	475	When you reboot your system, the <c>alsasound</c> init script will properly saveand restore your volume settings.
		476	</p>
		477
338	</body>	478	</body>
339	</section>	479	</section>
340	</chapter>	480	</chapter>
		481
341	<chapter>	482	<chapter>
342	<title>Final Notes</title>	483	<title>Final Notes</title>
343	<section>	484	<section>
344	<title>After kernel-upgrades..</title>	485	<title>After kernel-upgrades..</title>
345	<body>	486	<body>
		487
		488	<p>
346	<p>When you ever rebuild your kernel, or upgrade to another kernel, you'll have to rebuild the ALSA modules.</p>	489	When you ever rebuild your kernel, or upgrade to another kernel, you'll have to
		490	rebuild the ALSA modules.
		491	</p>
		492
		493	<p>
347	<p>Although you might have installed <c>alsa-driver</c>, <c>alsa-libs</c> and <c>alsa-utils</c>, only the first will	494	Although you might have installed <c>alsa-driver</c>, <c>alsa-libs</c> and
348	have to be installed again, since it will put the alsa modules in	495	<c>alsa-utils</c>, only the first will have to be installed again, since it will
349	<path>/lib/modules/*/kernel/sound/pci/</path>.</p>	496	put the alsa modules in <path>/lib/modules/*/kernel/sound/pci/</path>.
		497	</p>
		498
350	<pre caption="needed after each kernel compile">	499	<pre caption="needed after each kernel compile">
351	# <c>emerge alsa-driver</c>	500	# <i>emerge alsa-driver</i>
352	</pre>	501	</pre>
		502
353	</body>	503	</body>
354	</section>
355	<section>	504	</section>
		505	<section>
356	<title>/etc/modules.autoload</title>	506	<title>/etc/modules.autoload</title>
357	<body>	507	<body>
		508
		509	<p>
358	<p>You won't have to edit this file for use with ALSA. After our <c>rc-update add alsasound boot</c>, our system will	510	You won't have to edit this file for use with ALSA. After our <c>rc-update add
359	load the correct modules at startup.</p>	511	alsasound boot</c>, our system will load the correct modules at startup.
		512	</p>
		513
		514	<p>
360	<p>It's not necessary to add <c>snd-pcm-oss</c> or <c>snd-mixer-oss</c> in this file.	515	It's not necessary to add <c>snd-pcm-oss</c> or <c>snd-mixer-oss</c> in this
361	Check the <uri link="http://www.djcj.org/LAU/guide/alsbook/faq1.html">this FAQ</uri> for more info.</p>	516	file. Check the <uri link="http://www.djcj.org/LAU/guide/alsbook/faq1.html">this
		517	FAQ</uri> for more info.
		518	</p>
		519
362	</body>	520	</body>
363	</section>
364	<section>	521	</section>
		522	<section>
		523	<title>Known bugs</title>
		524	<body>
		525
		526	<note>
		527	This guide lags behind on the alsa-development. Chances are these bugs
		528	are already fixed when you read this.
		529	</note>
		530
		531	<ul>
		532	<li>
		533	If you have <b>lots of noise</b> when using <b>oss</b> emulation, add
		534	<e>options snd-pcm-oss dsp_map=1</e> to <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path>
		535	</li>
		536	</ul>
		537
		538	</body>
		539	</section>
		540	<section>
		541	<title>Activating Joystick Support</title>
		542	<body>
		543
		544	<p>
		545	If your soundcard has a joystick plug, you might be interested in activating
		546	joystick support for your soundcard. If so, start by verifying if your soundcard
		547	driver has a joystick parameter. You can verify this by running <c>modinfo</c>
		548	against your <path>snd-<your chipset></path>. For instance, for the
		549	<c>snd-via82xx</c>:
		550	</p>
		551
		552	<pre caption="Running modinfo">
		553	# <i>modinfo snd-via82xx</i>
		554	filename: /lib/modules/2.4.22-ck2/snd-via82xx.o
		555	description: "VIA VT82xx audio"
		556	author: "Jaroslav Kysela <perex@suse.cz>"
		557	license: "GPL"
		558	parm: index int array (min = 1, max = 8), description "Index value for VIA 82xx bridge."
		559	parm: id string array (min = 1, max = 8), description "ID string for VIA 82xx bridge."
		560	parm: enable int array (min = 1, max = 8), description "Enable audio part of VIA 82xx bridge."
		561	parm: mpu_port long array (min = 1, max = 8), description "MPU-401 port. (VT82C686x only)"
		562	<i>parm: joystick int array (min = 1, max = 8), description "Enable joystick. (VT82C686x only)"</i>
		563	parm: ac97_clock int array (min = 1, max = 8), description "AC'97 codec clock (default 48000Hz)."
		564	parm: dxs_support int array (min = 1, max = 8), description "Support for DXS channels
		565	(0 = auto, 1 = enable, 2 = disable, 3 = 48k only, 4 = no VRA)"
		566	</pre>
		567
		568	<p>
		569	If it has the <c>joystick</c> parameter, then append <c>joystick=1</c> to your
		570	<c>options</c> line in <path>/etc/modules.d/alsa</path>. For instance, for the
		571	<c>snd-via82xx</c>:
		572	</p>
		573
		574	<pre caption="Adding the joystick parameter">
		575	alias snd-card-0 snd-via82xx
		576	options snd-via82xx joystick=1
		577	</pre>
		578
		579	</body>
		580	</section>
		581	<section>
365	<title>More links..</title>	582	<title>More links..</title>
366	<body>	583	<body>
		584
367	<p>	585	<p>
368	You could check these for additional info:	586	You could check these for additional info:
369	</p>	587	</p>
370	<p>	588
371	<ul>	589	<ul>
		590	<li>
372	<li><uri link="http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/desktop.xml">The Gentoo Linux Desktop Configuration Guide</uri></li>	591	<uri link="http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/desktop.xml">The Gentoo Linux
		592	Desktop Configuration Guide</uri>
		593	</li>
		594	<li>
373	<li><uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org">ALSA Project Homepage</uri></li>	595	<uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org">ALSA Project Homepage</uri>
		596	</li>
		597	<li>
374	<li><uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org/documentation.php3">ALSA Users Documentation</uri></li>	598	<uri link="http://www.alsa-project.org/documentation.php3">ALSA Users
		599	Documentation</uri>
		600	</li>
		601	<li>
375	<li><uri link="http://www.djcj.org">ALSA Howto's and FAQ's</uri></li>	602	<uri link="http://www.djcj.org">ALSA Howto's and FAQ's</uri>
		603	</li>
		604	<li>
376	<li><uri link="http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO/index.html">Linux Sound HOWTO</uri></li>	605	<uri link="http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO/index.html">Linux Sound
		606	HOWTO</uri>
		607	</li>
		608	<li>
377	<li><uri link="http://linux-sound.org/">Sound and MIDI Software For Linux</uri></li>	609	<uri link="http://linux-sound.org/">Sound and MIDI Software For Linux</uri>
		610	</li>
378	</ul>	611	</ul>
379	</p>	612
380	</body>	613	</body>
381	</section>	614	</section>
382	</chapter>	615	</chapter>
383	</guide>	616	</guide>

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